Police Expand Preemptive Fingerprint Program to Address Rise in Dementia Disappearances (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, May 8 (Korea Bizwire) — With dementia-related missing person cases on the rise amid South Korea’s rapidly aging population, police are ramping up efforts to promote a fingerprint pre-registration system aimed at swiftly reuniting patients with their families.
The initiative, known as the Preemptive Fingerprint Registration Program, allows dementia patients to voluntarily register their fingerprints, home addresses, and guardian contact details with local police.
The system has proven effective: in one instance last August, an elderly woman in central Seoul who could not remember her name or address was found and returned to her caregiver within 30 minutes, thanks to her prior fingerprint registration.
According to the National Police Agency, 15,502 dementia patients were reported missing in 2024, a 26.3% increase from 12,272 in 2020. While the number of registered individuals has more than doubled over four years—from 3,590 in 2020 to 6,983 in 2024—the overall participation rate remains low.
As of last year, only 29.2% of the country’s dementia patients had enrolled in the program, with 30,320 total registrants.
“Time is life in missing dementia cases,” a police official stated. “Early fingerprint registration is a crucial tool in locating and safely returning patients.”
To boost awareness and participation, police are collaborating with private sector partners. Woori Bank, for example, offers a preferential interest rate of 1.2% on fixed savings accounts for customers who provide proof of registration.
Snack maker Orion has added QR codes linking to registration instructions on the packaging of popular products like Choco Pie and peanut squid snacks.
Registration can be completed at local police stations, substations, or online via the Safe Dream website and smartphone apps. Authorities hope broader adoption of the program will help safeguard vulnerable seniors as dementia cases continue to rise.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
